Equal-IT Initiative Launched to Encourage Women in Northern Ireland into the Workforce

Equal-IT Initiative Launched to Encourage Women in Northern Ireland into the Workforce

Cross community course to target over 300 women

Belfast: 22nd March 2007 – Castlereagh College and FIT NI (Fasttrack to IT Northern Ireland) with its partners, Microsoft and Springvale Learning Centre have launched Equal-IT, a cross community ICT Training Initiative programme designed to encourage women residing in marginalised communities acquire new skills to effectively participate in the IT industry and where desired secure employment.

The Equal-IT initiative is a collaborative initiative between Government, industry and educational institutions that will help make a significant numbers of women in Belfast access new opportunities. In total the programme will reach 300 women, 100 of which will sit courses designed to provide the skills they’ll need to get back into the workforce, while a further 200 women will gain IT skills through a digital inclusion programme which will provide basic IT skills and give them the opportunity to access additional training.

Equal-IT has secured funding from the Department of Employment and Learning for Equal IT under the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme and has received additional funding from Microsoft and FIT NI. The programmes are being run by Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education and Springvale Learning Centre.

The programme is designed to address the socio-economic exclusion of women through up-skilling and advocacy and is helping to address issues of women residing in marginalised communities in Northern Ireland. The courses are specifically designed to provide the participants with marketable IT skills.

Paula Kelly, Head of FIT NI said, “Equal IT is an innovative project because it is reaching out to marginalised women and providing them with relevant training and couples that training with placement programmes where we work with them to help them secure full-time employment.

Dr Mark Brotherston, Equal IT project Manager from Castlereagh College said, “The Equal IT Programme will pro-actively identify women in the community, develop their skills and guide their careers until they can secure full time employment. By bringing together Government, community groups, educators and the private sector, Equal IT offers a complete programme to help women get back to work.”

Raymond Doherty, Springvale Learning Centre noted, "I am delighted that Springvale has an association with such a forward thinking and proactive organisation. I look forward to strengthening links in the future with FIT NI so that our students get access to the benefits of being part of their comprehensive network".

“One of the reasons that FIT works so well is that it is based on a strong partnership model,” commented Peter Russell, Microsoft Northern Ireland Manager. “By bringing together Government, the academic and the private sectors, FIT creates a unique end-to-end model where people in marginalised areas can access relevant training that will give them a great opportunity to get back in the workforce. The training is coupled with placement services which give people a chance to use those skills in the workplace. It is this model that makes FIT best practice in helping people get back into the work force and we’re very proud to be associated with the programme.”

Alex Fekkes, student from Castlereagh College said, “The true value of the course is that it offers training, recruitment and ultimately a placement opportunity, allowing me to go straight into the workforce following the completion of the course.”

Patricia Downey, studying the course at Springvale Learning Centre noted, “I am delighted to be doing the Equal IT programme as it is giving me the opportunity to develop skills that I wouldn’t have been able to access easily otherwise. It’s a very practical course that teaches us skills that will be useful in the workplace and I look forward to getting out into the working world.”

FIT was established to help people in marginalised areas to get back into the workforce through the provision of relevant skills that are required by employers in the local community. The mission of FIT NI is to meet the recruitment needs of Northern Ireland industry through the provision of training, support and career opportunities for unemployed people, so that they can achieve their true potential and contribute to the Northern Irish economy. It is an industry led initiative, the Board of Directors comprise of senior executives from many of the top companies located in Northern Ireland.

Companies and Agencies supporting FIT are: Microsoft, Momentum, Business in the Community, HCL, Northbrook Technology, BIC, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Harbour, Kainos, ANIC, Springvale learning, BIFHE, Castlereagh College, Liberty IT, Siemens, Halifax, Belfast Metropolitan College.